Sen. Morrell Successful in First Vote to Wash Out Occupational Licensing Requirement for Shampooing Hair

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development passed SB 999 by Senator Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga), which would start tackling California’s burdensome occupational licensing system by repealing the requirements to work in a number of personal care-related career fields.

“It is no coincidence that California is ranked one of the most difficult states in which do business, while simultaneously holding the distinction of having some of the most burdensome occupational licensing requirements,” said Morrell. “I am grateful for the support of my colleagues in this effort. SB 999 is about lowering barriers to workforce entry and increasing economic opportunity.”

The practices of shampooing, arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, and beautifying hair all currently require over 1,500 hours of training, several exams, and up to $125 in fees in order to receive a license. They are just a small snapshot of the over 300 different jobs that require licenses in California, which has prompted the Institute for Justice to rank the state as the “most broadly and onerously licensed” in the country.